Topics

What transpired Friday night at Amway Center almost could make an objective person feel sorry for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Orlando Magic schooled ’em from start to finish. Dwight Howard outplayed Andrew Bynum. Jameer Nelson bounced back from one of the worst games of his career. And the rest of the Magic looked like they were going full-speed while Bryant’s teammates looked like they were sleepwalking. The result: a 92-80 Orlando win over Los Angeles that might have made Shaquille O’Neal regret saying that Bynum was the NBA’s best big man. “Tonight’s game was not about Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard,” Howard said afterward....

The Lakers spent $99.9 million in salary this season for a roster that went 45-37. Additionally, the team will pay $29.6 million in luxury taxes -- a total of $129.5 million to get into the playoffs and suffer a first-round sweep by the San Antonio Spurs....

Spurs 120, Lakers 89 (final)
The San Antonio Spurs dominated the Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 120-89 victory on Friday night at Staples Center.
The Lakers couldn't...

In a year defined by injury, Coach Mike D'Antoni became a lightning rod for criticism, despite leading the Lakers (45-37) team to a 28-12, seventh-place finish.
In the closing moments of the Lakers' sweep by the San Antonio Spurs, the familiar chant of...

Spurs 103, Lakers 82 (final)
The Lakers' season finally came to a close on Sunday in a game that symbolized the year.
Injuries were the defining factor in the team's 45-37 regular season and the postseason was no different. The Lakers had to...

Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni is looking forward to a "normal" season after last year's difficult trek.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know the guys. See how they interact with each other -- see if we can have a little bit [more]...

An updated look at NBA free agents. Who has signed, who is still available, who has become available:
Best of who is left: Kenyon Martin, Josh Howard, Derek Fisher, Chris Andersen, Mickael Pietrus, Mehmet Okur (retired), Maurice Evans, Ryan Gomes,...